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(No Model.) H. W. JOHNSTONE.

OAR COUPLING.

Patented Nov. 11, 1884.

N PETERS. Pholo-Lnlmgraphur. WashinglmL D. c.

Nrrnn Sra'rns PATENT @rrrcni.

HUGER XV. JOHNSTONE, OF IDLElVILD, GEORGIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIIFECATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,955, dated November 11, 1884.

Application filed April 14, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it natty concern:

Be it known that I, HUGER WV. J OHNSTONE, of Idlewild, in the county of Gordon and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oar-Couplings; and I do here by declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to the draw-bars of car-couplings of that class in which the coupling and uncoupling are effected by lateral movement of the head, though some of the features are applicable to other forms of coupling-head.

The invention also includes some modification of the form of the car-frame in the parts more immediately connected with or about the draw-bar.

The object of my invention is, first, to provide cheaper, more effectual, and durable mechanism for controlling the lateral movement of the draw-bar. Further, its purpose is to improve the horizontal spring apparatus to brace the frame and to shorten the drawbar, or to bring it more within the frame, in order to form a close coupling.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents the draw-bar, coupling-heads, and part of the frame in plan view. Fig. 2 is a section on line y 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a section on line x x of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a modified form.

In these drawings the draw bar A is shown as provided with interlocking draw-heads, forming a coupling in general shape and'operation like the Miller and couplings of that class. The drawbar extends backward from the end of the car within the frame. I make it rectangular in crosssection, or substantially so, so that the upper and lower faces are plane surfaces in contact with the supports. This draw-baris connected to the end of beam K by means of three rods. These rods lie in the same horizontal plane, and are fixed to a fiat bar, 1, pivoted within a recess, H, in the beam K, so'as to have free lateral play.

On the central rod (marked 2) is placed a coiled spring, 3, the rear end of which bears against the head t of the face of the beam. The other end of the spring bears against the rear or inner end of the draw-bar. The outer rods (marked 1 1) are placed so as to lie snugly transverse rods 5 5 and 6 6.

against the spring and hold it against lateral movement. The three rods all pass through the end of the draw-bar into a recess,W, terminating within said'recess at a point sufficient in-rear of the forward end of the recess to allow proper backward play of the draW- bar. The forward ends passthrough aplate, B, and are provided with nuts or heads for holding said plate. Another plate, I), similar to B, may be placed ,on the rods next to the rear end of the recess, and a coiled spring, 4, is placed upon the middle rod in the manner described for the coiled spring 3. The spring bears against the plate B at one end, and against plate I) at the other. Similar plates may be interposed, if desired, at the end of spring 3. The rods slide freely throughholes in the end L of the draw-bar.

It will be apparent that the spring 4 will re lieve the shock in starting, and the rods to form the connections for a draft, and at the same time gives security and stiffness against lateral friction and lends support to the springs. The draw-baris supported between These rods or bars extend across between the longitudinal timbers was, passing through said timbers, and being connected securely to them. The rods 5 5 are arranged above the draw-bar, and the rods (5 6,below, leaving space just sufficient for the draw bar to move between them. Plates 9, in form rectangular, or any suitable form, provided with holes adapted to register with the rods, are slipped upon the rods and lie on each side of the draw-bar andnext to it. \Vithin the four rods on the right hand side I place a coiled spring, in, which is held and guided within the rods as in a cage or frame. The outer end of the spring bears against the beams m, or against the plate 9,

similar to plate 9. The other end bears against the plate g, and as the latter plate slides freely against the rods the draw-bar, when it is drawn or pushed to the right, compresses the spring m.

In ordinary passenger-cars or cars of the same length it is not necessary that the spring should be placed above the left side; but on that side the plate 9 may be set or held at a proper position by means of nuts, shoulders, keys, or set-screws. In short coal-cars, or in similar cars,where freely lateral movement is desired for the draw-bar in passing around Short curves, a spring, m, may be placed on the left side also, in which case the plate 9 on that side is not limited in its movement, but is allowed free play.

It will be observed that this construction and arrangement of the rods at the same time holds the spring guides the draw bar, and braces the frame, and prevents box from turning, &c. The rods may be extended diagonally, as shown at 9 and 10 both in Figsl and 4. With this construction I may omit the center part of the cross-beam of the front platform, using only short cross-beams G between the longitudinal beams and y. Any two of the four rods 5 and 6 may be thus deflected and passed through the outer frame, being held by nuts bearing on angle-irons 12 and 13, or in any suitable way. This construction serves to brace the frame and to distribute strain throughout the whole structure. 7

For close coupling, where the platforms are to be brought closely together, I may set the rods sufficiently back to bring the coupling well within the frame, as shown in Fig. 4, and in that figure also I have shown the two transverse rods,which are not deflected, as extending through the outer beams, y, for additional strength.

Any suitable plates or anti-friction devices may be placed on the rods 5 and 6, or between them and the draw-bar, if desired.

Although I have shown a form of-couplingconnection of the class described, adapted to permit some lateral movement on the unlocking heads themselves, I do not confine myself to this particular form.

When the unlocking draw head is used,.

which couples and uncouples by lateral movements, I prefer to use a stop or locking bar such as that used in Fig. 4, it being specially adapted to the arrangement of the draw-head and frame therein shown. The bar is shown at I. It is hinged on the outer edge at 14, and so hinged that the square end of the bar will rest against the beam when the bar is in the position shown in full lines. A bell-crank lever, 15, is pivoted on the inner face of the beam, and one arm of it is connected to the bar Z .by a slip-joint. The other end of the bell-crank lever is connected by a rod, 16, to any suitable lever, whereby the bar is moved to the position shown in dotted lines for unlocking the draw-bar and permitting lateral movement. The bar lshould leave a space of an inch, more or less, between its free end and the side of the draw-bar when the latter is in its normal position, so as to allow the necessary lateral play without unlocking. This apparatus may be operated from the outside of the car or from the platform.

I claim as my invention-- 1. In combination with the draw-bar, the rods 1 and 2, provided with a head, t, the spring arranged on the rods as described, and suitable connections with the draw-bar, all substantially as described.

2. The rods 1 and 2, provided with head t, the draw-bar having recess with the rods extending into the recess, the springs 3 and 4, and theplates B b, all substantially as described.

3. Combined with the draw-bar, the rods 5 and 6, the frame-work of the car-body, and the spring m, substantially as described.

4. The car-frame, the draw-bar, the rods 5 and 6, the plate 9, sliding on the rods, and the spring m, parts being combined and operating substantially as described.

5. In combination, the rods 5 and 6, and the draw-bar and movable plate g, and its spring, and fixed plate on the side opposite the spring, substantially as described.

6. In combination, the draw-bar, the rods5 and 6, a suitable spring or springs, the frame work so and 1, and the bracing-rod extension 9 and 10, substantially as described.

7. The frame-work x, y, and G on each side of the draw-bar,an open space between them, the rods 5 and 6, fixed to and bracing the said frames, and the draw bar, inclosing a slide between said bars with suitable interposed springs, substantially as described. 1

' 8. The hinge and swinging stop-bar Z, pivoted to the beam 00 of the frame as, y, and G, combined with the draw-bar and its supporting-rods 5 and 6, and suitable bell-crank lever, and rods for operating the bar Z, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUGER W. JOHNSTONE.

Witnesses:

JOHN B. THoMPsoN, \VALTER DONALDSON. 

